Pondering a Mountain

Trials and tribulations. All of us face them in our lives, but what do we do about it? How do we cope with them and is there any hope for a ‘bright tomorrow’ when faced with a mountain? These are questions that we all ask ourselves at one point in time or another and my battles with a few of my own ‘mountains’ has brought me to ponder the subject on a deeper level lately.

There are many things that happen in life that make absolutely no sense to us and that tempt us to question the will of God. However, sooner or later we come to the realization that it is not our place to question the will of our Creator but to have faith and hope as we keep trusting in Him.

Being a child of a loving God does not make me immune to life’s trials. The Bible clearly teaches that God loves those who are His children and He “works all things together for good” for us (Rom 8:28). So that must mean that (even though we cannot always see it) the trials and tribulations He allows in our lives are part of the working together of all things for good. Therefore, for the believer, all trials and tribulations must have a divine purpose.

As in everything, God’s ultimate purpose for us is to grow more and more into the image of His Son (Rom 8:29). This is the goal of the Christian, and everything in life, including the trials and tribulations, is designed to enable us to reach that goal. It is part of the process of sanctification; that is, being set apart for God’s purposes and fitted to live for His glory. "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1 6-7) Simply put, faith will be made sure by the trials we experience so that we can rest in the knowledge that it is real and will last forever.

If we were to step back and look at things, we would notice that our trials develop godly character with-in us that enables us to "rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Rom 5:3-5). Persevering proves our faith. "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

At the same time, we must be careful never to make excuses for our "trials and tribulations" if they are a result of our own wrongdoing. God will forgive our sins because the eternal punishment for them has been paid by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. However, we still have to suffer the natural consequences in this life for our sins and bad choices. But God uses even those sufferings to mold and shape us for His purposes and our ultimate good. The more I study and reflect on this the more I fully realize how trials and tribulations come with both a purpose and a reward. "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:2-4, 12).

Through all of life’s trials and tribulations, we have the victory. "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ." These verses encourage us to see that although we are in a spiritual battle, Satan has no authority over the believer in Christ. God has given us His Word to guide us, His Holy Spirit to enable us, and the privilege of coming to Him anywhere, at any time, to pray about anything. He has also assured us that no trial will test us beyond our ability to bear it, and “he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Cor 10:13).